Related Articles

If taking a free fall from thousands of feet in the air while desperately trying to start breathing again is what strikes your fancy, then skydiving should be your sport of choice. The crystal clear waters of Lake Michigan and the surrounding landscape of unpopulated Northern Michigan greenery will take your breath away -- if the jump itself hasn't already -- as you plummet toward the earth. But do not worry: once you pull the parachute's rip cord, you have another five minutes to enjoy the view as you softly float back toward the ground.

Equipment

Any skydiving adventure requires you to wear sensible, stable clothes that are not likely to fall off in mid-air. On top of those clothes, you must be outfitted in a jumpsuit and helmet, harness, a parachute, a reserve parachute, and an automatic activation device that ensures that your parachute deploys on time. Skydiving companies provide you with the required gear if you are jumping with them. If you plan on becoming a pro yourself, you may want to invest in your own equipment and become friends with local pilots.

Skills and Requirements

First-time skydivers should go for a "tandem jump" with an experienced skydiver or instructor. This approach relieves the new skydiver of responsibility for deploying the parachute and offers some added confidence. To become a pro and go on your own, you need to take a class and become certified by the U.S. Parachute Association through an already-certified instructor. Learn not only when to pull out your parachute, but how to skyboard, belly fly and even soar through the skies in a bird-like suit. Harnesses are only capable of holding 250 lbs., so whether you jump tandem or solo, being under the proper weight is your only specific restriction.

The Experience

In Northern Michigan, your skydive starts from more than 10,000 feet above the rolling hills and forests of Northern Michigan. Dives take you over a variety of sights, like the Mackinaw Bridge, Beaver Island, Grand Traverse Bay and the Western Michigan coastline. On a clear day, some divers can see all the way to Chicago. If you want to capture the experience on video, an experienced diver will join you on your jump and record your reactions.

Where to Go

Two companies in Northern Michigan offer skydiving lessons and dives. Skydive Harbor Springs (skydiveharborsprings.com), located on the northwestern tip of the Lower Peninsula, starts dives from the Harbor Springs Airport and takes jumpers west or north for their dives. Premier Skydiving (premier-skydiving.com) in Fremont is located near the central west coast of Michigan and serves the western half of the Lower Peninsula from the Fremont Airport.

References

About the Author

Emily Manthei holds a masters degree from the University of Edinburgh and has written for publications as diverse as the "Oxford Journal of Theological Studies," "Emanuel Levy Film Reviews," "USA Today" and "Northern Express Magazine." She also writes screenplays for short and feature films.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.